Dangerous Cold Temperatures for Dogs and Cats

by Nicholas DeMarino

Your dog may love to frolic in the snow, but make sure to limit his exposure to dangerously cold temperatures.

Burrr. If it's too cold for you outside, it's probably too cold for your pets. Dogs and cats usually fair better than their masters outdoors, but freezing weather can still lead to frostbite and hypothermia in minutes. Even outdoor pets should spend the night indoors when it's dangerously cold.

What's Normal

Drop the thermometer and take a deep breath. It's OK -- your dog or cat's temperature is normally between 100 and 102 degrees Fahrenheit, but minor fluctuations are normal. Dogs lean toward the upper end of the spectrum, cats roost at the bottom end.

It's harder for pets to maintain their temperatures in the cold, but, like many members of their mammalian coterie, dogs and cats have fur to retain heat. They grow thicker coats in response to diminished daylight (and, by extension, the cold it portents).

If your pet's temperature waivers significantly from the average -- say, by 5 degrees or more -- he needs medical care. Call a veterinarian hotline or visit an animal ER immediately.

Cold Feet

There is no set "dangerously cold" temperature for pets. It's an issue of relative tolerance.

Some dog breeds, like huskies and malamutes, do fairly well in wintery weather. Indoor pets don't get natural cues to grow winter coats, so it's harder for them to stay warm outside or when you turn down the heat inside. Shorthair varieties have a harder time, too, as do young and elderly pets.

When the mercury drops below freezing, most dogs and cats can only endure 10 or 15 minutes outdoors -- fewer still if it's windy. Cold temperatures can cause frostbite and hypothermia.

When to Worry

Dry your pet, then warm him up with a towel-wrapped heating pad or warm water bottle. Never place the heat source directly against your pet's skin -- this causes burns. Per the water, the optimal word is "warm," not "hot" -- the latter also causes burns.

Avoid bringing a pet from the outdoors to a fully warm area, even when he's shivering, as a drastic change can predispose him to pneumonia.